CAPITOL SCARE Supreme Court alert in Washington D.C. as ‘suspicious package’ sparks road closures and staff ‘warned to avoid the area’
17:22 ET, Apr 5 2022 Updated: 19:03 ET, Apr 5 2022
A SUSPICIOUS package has been detected at the Supreme Court in Washington DC, prompting road closures and warnings to avoid the area.
The US Capitol Police gave the all clear right around 6pm local time.
Photos show Capitol Police responding to the situation, which was initially reported just before 5pm local time.
Staff and personnel were directed to avoid the area.
Multiple street closures were in effect while the Capitol Police investigated.
The US Capitol Police did not immediately respond to The Sun's request for comment.
The incident comes as a vote is expected this week regarding the appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
On February 25, Jackson was nominated by President Joe Biden to fill the seat being vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer after he announced his retirement.
Yesterday, two more Republican Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney, announced they would be voting in support of Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced last week she would also vote in favor of Jackson's appointment.
Democrats are hoping to confirm Jackson by the end of the week.
If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black female justice in history.
The suspicious package comes hours after an unrelated incident that also prompted a Capitol Police response.
Several "aggressive" fox encounters were reported on the grounds of the US Capitol in the early afternoon.
"Animal Control Officers are working to trap and relocate any foxes they find," Capitol Police shared via Twitter.
A fox was captured shortly thereafter, around 3.30pm local time.
https://www.the-sun.com/news/5059180/supreme-court-alert-washington-dc-suspicious-package/